Furniture



Jan. 15, 1935. H; E. LEQVINE I 1,987,940

FURNITURE Filed June 20, '1954 4 'INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 15, 1935 Berkshire Upholstered Furniture Crimpallh]. Chicopee,'Mass,, acorporatiori of Massachusetts Application June 20, man-s rial No 731,512

3Claims. (01, 155-5137) improvements in the construction of chairs, sofas,

davenports, and the like, of the upholstered or stuffed type and as a special feature ofthe invention means is provided to facilitatethe comfort and ease desired in upholstered furniture without the spring means commonly employed in connection therewith. I I

Another object of theinvention is the provision of a furniture structure which is relatively simple in form and inexpensiveto produce as distinguished from prior art furniture and by reason of the novel features of the invention it is adapted for wide application in the construction of various forms of furniture such as chairs, sofas, davenports, and the like. i

A further object of the inventionis the provision of a furniture structure where end plates are so shaped and co-operate with'a novel flexible support in such a way as to provide aseat and back which may beupholstered to provide the ease and comfort without the aid of springs,

the flexible member being held in a novel Way in its seatand back-forming relation with reinforcements associated therewith to maintain it v upholstered-andcoveredchair be of suchshape' in the general shape desired;

be describe d'in connection with aflchairfbut it will be readily understood that it is adaptedTfor wide application and may well be employed. notonly, with chairs of all'types butas well with daven- ,Y filling, padding or the like which'is'coveredwith 35. ports, sofas, and other articles of furi'liture.

The various novel features and advantages of the invention will be morefully' hereinafter re ferred to in connectionjw' ith the accompanyingv beinghadto p support member suchas 26."

detail description' thereof, reference 40. the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Fig. '1 is a perspective view'of anarticle of furniture embodying the novel features of the invention; I Fig. 2 is 'a side elevational view of a chair to 5" show the construction of the. frame-work or foundation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the chair shown in g I e I I e g in such away as to-"appro'ximate the contour of Fig.2;. V, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational "view to 50; explain certain detailsof construction;

Fig. 5 isa'perspective fragmentary viewex-J plain how the supporting member-is reinforced and associated with the frame of the chair;

Fig. 6 is'a fragmentary rear elevational view at 55 one corner of the chair; and

V For purposes of description the invention Twill 'Fig.'- 7 l is a sectional 'elevational view on the" lined- 7 ofFig; 2.

Referringnow to the drawing theinvention will be fully described."

A chair '2 is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and'3 whichih as a frame consisting of side plates 4, forward'posts 6, rear posts 8 and longitudinal rails 10.- An upperrear rail 12extends between the side members "4' at the rear sides and a forward rail 14 extends be tween the members 4 at their forward sides. 3

These rails mentioned extend transversely be; tween the members 4 and. there may be (other rails such as 1 6; 18, 19, 'and 20 suitably secured to the side inembers;-bottomrails; posts aridother parts to provide a" strong? rigid frame" work @11 struction. an "essentiai'reature, the" structure includes plates or side meniberssuchas 1 *whethfi er'the invention iseinb'odied in a chair such as shown," or chairs of *otherjformswith or without arm's such as 9," or with a "somydayenpqrt or the 'Theside platesr-ha've upper edge portions, as

shown in Fig. 2, which curve rearwardly and downwardly to an approximate central portion and theni'rearwardlyand upwardly past arm-rests 9' to rail 12 as shownin Fig. 3 in the contour of a seat and back; It'isdesired forcomfort and other reasonsthatthe article of furniture such as; air

as to fit the person sitting initand as will appear the upper edge portions of the side members or equivalent parts are arranged to approximate'the' desired ultimate shape 'offseat' and back "In furniture of'this type it i psualto provide decorative'material and'which' is supported or baokeduplby s'prings, but accordingto this invenk tion, springs are not necessaryand are entirely. eliminated, and in lieu thereof, there is provided a This supporting .member 26 is preferably of some flexible material v such as, fabric preferably] of an inexpensive nature,'such as, for instance, burlap or the like. The supporting member extends between the rails 14 and 12 to which itsopposite ends are secured and between'its points of. attachment to therails it, is secured to the frame.

more in detail,

form a tube or case 31 along each marginal edge. In the tubes 31 there are inserted relatively rigid reinforcing members such as a length of wire or the like indicated by 30. The reinforcing members are formed to approximate the contour it is desired to impart to the member 26 to provide the seat and back, as desired.

The upper end such as 32 of the member 26 preferably extends over the rail 12 and down the rear side thereof and is secured in any well-known manner, as by tacking or the like.

The rod members have their opposite ends formed to provide prongs such as 34 and these prongs are driven downwardly into the rail 12 so as to anchor the rods. The other end ofthe support 26 and the ends of the rods 30 associated with the rail 14 are secured to said rail after the manner described in connection with the rail 12. In this way opposite ends of the support as well as opposite ends of rods are secured so that the support is capable of withstanding weight usually assumed by springs in furnitureconstruction. The side edges of the support are held in seat and back forming position by means of straps which are secured to the frame structure.

The straps 40 according to one form of the invention are employed as follows. The tubes at opposite sides of the support 26 are cut away so that the straps 40 may envelop the rods 30 and then the ends of the straps, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, are secured to the members 4 as by tacking or the like.

With the opposite ends of the support26 secured to the rails of the structure, with its sides reinforced by rods and with the sides of the support secured to the structure as described the support assumes-and is maintained in the desired contour while it is yieldable to the required degree. It is held against undue distortion so that the chair when completed by padding, covering, and the like is properly and adequately supported without the use of springs such as heretofore emp w The chair frame as shown in the drawing may be padded and covered in any well-known manner to complete it as shown in Fig. 1. In the form of the invention shown however there are provided for the seat and back a plurality of pads or bolsters P which may be connected together and which are disposed on the support 26 and secured in place. In this way the pads or other upholstering material has a suitable foundation and then of course the whole structure may be covered with the necessary and desired padding and other materials.

Where the structuredescribed is employed in connection with a couch, davenport,or the like, and where the supporting member is relatively wider than that of a chair, other intermediate reinforcing members may be employed between the reinforcing members at opposite sides of the support and these may be secured to the rails and extend through other tubes provided in the reinforcing member.

It will be noted that a strong rugged support is provided which is properly reinforced to properly function as a foundation and support while it is yieldable to the desired extent and is held tomaintain the proper shape of seat and back, all without the aid of springs or other parts.

While I have described my invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination in an article of furniture of, spaced side members, forward and rear rail members connected thereto to provide a frame, the said rear rail member being disposed in a plane above that of the forward rail member, a flexible member for supporting upholstering extending between said side and rail members, resilient reinforcing rods secured to opposite side edges of said flexible member and extending between said rails formed to the contour of a seat extending-rearwardly from the forward rail and a back extending upwardly therefrom to the rear rail to shape the said flexible member to seat and back-forming contour, means securing opposite ends of the said flexible member and reinforcing' rods to said rails and means at spaced points intermediate the ends of the rods for securing the sides of said flexible member and the said reinforcing rods to said side members.

2. The combination in an article of furniture of, spaced side members, forward and rear rail members connected thereto, the latter of which is disposed in a plane above that of the former, a flexible support member to provide a foundation for the upholstery of a seat and back extending between said side and rail members, resilient reinforcing rods at opposite marginal side edges of said flexible member having their opposite ends securedto said rails, means securing the ends of the flexible member to the said rails, means securing the said rods and marginal edges of the flexible support together, the said rods being formed between opposite ends thereof to the contour of a seat extending inwardly from the forward rail and a back extending upwardly to the rear rail forming the flexible member to provide a foundation for a continuous seat and back extending rearwardly from the forward rail and upwardly to the rear rail and means at opposite sides of the flexible member and spaced intermediate the ends of said rods connecting said rods and side edges of the flexible support to said side members.

3. The combination in an article of furniture of, spaced side members, forward and rear rail members connected thereto, the latter of which is disposed in a plane above that of the former, a support member of flexible material to provide a foundation for the upholstery of a seat and back having opposite ends secured to said rails, tubes provided at the marginal side edges of said flexible member, resilient continuous reinforcing rods extending through said tubes having the opposite ends thereof bent to provide prongs which are driven into said rails for anchoring said rods to said rails, the said rods intermediate their ends being formed to the contour of a seat extending rearwardly from the forward rail and a back continuing therefrom and upwardly to the rear rail forming and holding said flexible member to the contour of a foundation for a back and seat, the side edges of said flexible support being cut away to provide openings at spaced points therealong, straps extending in said openings and engaging the rods having free ends secured to the side members whereby the rods and supporting member are held against appreciable movement relative to said side members.

HARRY E. LEVINE. 

